THE WEEK; Anti-Discrimination Law Will Protect Transgendered

By JOHN HOLL

Published: December 31, 2006

A measure signed by Gov. Jon S. Corzine earlier this month will protect the civil rights of transgender people by amending the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination to add ''gender identity or expression'' to the list of protected characteristics.

Under the law, which will take effect in June, transgender people will be protected from discrimination in employment, contracts, housing, lending and union membership. People who violate the law face fines of $10,000 for a first offense, $25,000 for a second offense and $50,000 for third and subsequent offenses.

''The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination is one of the most powerful tools we have in government to protect our citizens,'' Mr. Corzine said. The bill passed the State Senate, 32 to 3, and the Assembly, 69 to 5, with six abstentions. Mr. Corzine signed it into law on Dec. 19.

In a statement, one of the bill's sponsors, State Senator Ellen Karcher, a Monmouth County Democrat, said the law would help curb intolerance of transgender people. State Senator Joseph F. Vitale and Assembly members Reed Gusciora, John F. McKeon, Joseph Vas and Bonnie Watson Coleman, all Democrats, also sponsored the bill.

''Through this legislation, we are guaranteeing that civil rights cannot be denied on the basis of gender identity,'' Ms. Karcher's statement said. ''In today's society, intolerance and cruelty towards a people simply because they don't fit the homogenized definition of 'normal' have no place, and cannot be tacitly accepted by omission in our laws.'' JOHN HOLL